Senator calls for swift NHTSA investigation into Tesla after Texas fatal crash
Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to accelerate its probe of Tesla's Full Self-Driving system following a crash in Texas that killed a 76-year-old woman.
A Texas crash in the Houston suburb of Katy that killed 76-year-old Martha Avila has intensified scrutiny of Tesla's driver-assistance technology. The incident, captured on video as a Model 3 collided with a brick house, prompted two federal investigations.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Tesla must be held accountable and urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to act more quickly. "Tesla must be held accountable and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should move much more quickly and effectively to investigate and hold it accountable," he told NBC News.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded on X, questioning the crash dynamics and noting that Full Self-Driving (FSD) typically operates at low speeds in neighborhoods. Tesla vice-president of AI Ashok Elluswamy added that the driver had manually overridden the system by pressing the accelerator to 100 %.
Blumenthal and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., had sent a letter to NHTSA three days before the crash, requesting a full review of FSD safety claims and greater data transparency. The senators argue that Tesla's methodology for reporting crashes—counting only incidents where FSD was engaged within five seconds of impact—differs from NHTSA's 30-second reporting window, potentially understating risk.
The family of the victim has filed a lawsuit against Tesla and the driver. NHTSA confirmed it has opened an investigation but declined further comment.
The incident adds to ongoing congressional efforts, including the Stay in Your Lane Act, to tighten oversight of automated driving systems and require manufacturers to disclose comprehensive safety data.